Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure. I refer to the government's own budget papers which show that federal infrastructure investment in Tasmania will fall from $174 million this financial year to $53 million in 2019-20. Is this a reflection of the fact that not a single new federally-funded major infrastructure project has been commenced under either the Abbott or the Turnbull-Joyce governments?

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member, the member for Grayndler, for his question. It is always a great honour to get a question from the member for Grayndler. He is no doubt very good at his job. He's across his brief. I think he has great prospects in the near future within the Labor Party! I welcome that I get many questions from him. I think it's very proper that the Australian people see how the member for Grayndler performs.

But it's interesting: he says there was no federal investment in capital infrastructure. I was down there only recently, seeing the dams and the water infrastructure that we are building. And I look forward to Premier Hodgman building further water infrastructure in Tasmania, and that's most definitely capital infrastructure, and it's most definitely in Tasmania.

Also, on the Midland Highway, we are currently expending money, and I know that the people of Tasmania—

Ms Collins interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Franklin is warned!

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

are looking forward to further growth in that. We are very aware of the capital requirements of Tasmania—the capital requirements of the Bass Highway and the Midlands Highway and of the water infrastructure projects—because we are a government that builds infrastructure. We are a government that builds substantial infrastructure. And we're currently at work on Badgerys Creek and on Inland Rail. These things are vitally important. We have a vision. We'll make sure that we have a sealed road that goes from the top of Cape York to the bottom of the mainland and then through, bisecting, Tasmania. This is the sort of vision you have. We are not the philosophers on a log. We are the people who believe in infrastructure. I look forward to many questions from the future leader of the Labor Party.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Prime Minister has concluded his answer. The member for Grayndler will resume his seat.